The search for Warren Gatland's successor

Three months ago, journalists were invited to the Principality Stadium as Welsh Rugby Union CEO Abi Tierney and chairman Richard Collier-Keywood presented their outline strategy for the game. At the conclusion of the Power Point presentation, reporters were permitted to ask questions. While the majority centred on funding and potentially going down to three professional sides, there was one very important query which slipped under the radar.

One highly-respected journalist asked the question ‘who is going to be the next Wales coach?’. Understandably neither Tierney or Collier-Keywood could answer definitively, but it would be very concerning if the WRU hadn't already started their long-term succession planning.

The WRU have shown no indication whatsoever they are even considering parting ways with Gatland, despite a run of nine consecutive defeats in Test matches, with the New Zealander committed to a rebuilding job he hopes will result in Wales giving a good account of themselves at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. But Gatland won't be around forever, and sooner or later the WRU will have to find a successor.

It's also worth noting that unexpected departures happen often in professional sport - just look at the situation in England where both Aled Walters and Felix Jones abruptly left Steve Borthwick's backroom team.

When it comes to who coaches the men's national team, it should always be the best person for the job regardless of nationality, but it should be an aspiration of the WRU to have at least three credible Welsh candidates in the future. To become head coach of Wales, the ideal candidate has to be somebody with a proven track record of winning silverware who is also experienced at international level.

As far as Welsh coaches are concerned, Rob Howley is best-placed in the long-run having taken the helm as head coach in the past, winning the Six Nations title in 2013 when Wales annihilated England 30-3 in the Championship decider, while the 53-year-old has also won three Grand Slams as Gatland's assistant and coached on three British & Irish Lions tours. If there was a southern hemisphere coach with that track record, he'd likely get far more love from the Welsh public.

Outside Howley, and potentially Dai Young, there aren't any Welsh head coaches with a proven track record of success. Dwayne Peel and Dai Flanagan may have potential but have both struggled for results at club level with the Scarlets and Dragons, respectively. But it will be very interesting to see how Mark Jones goes as head coach of the Ospreys when Toby Booth departs at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Jones is somebody who has bounced back from adversity, having been removed as Scarlets attack coach by Wayne Pivac a decade ago.